Making notes in lectures

Making notes in lectures is the first step in getting the most from your learning. Finding the right style of notes (e.g. linear, pattern, mind map) will help you greatly when making them as well as how and when you use them after the lecture.

Note making tips

Prepare: Come prepared by reviewing any reading or an overview of the lecture and consider what you already know about the topic.

Make sure that you have a pen and plenty of paper or a device that you can quickly take notes with.

Be punctual so you don’t miss anything at the start of the lecture and have time to settle down and get organised.

Goal set: What key information do you want to take from the lecture? Doing the background reading will set you up with a basic understanding of the topics being covered.

Be active: Engage with the lecture, identify key points, listen for answers to your questions.

Mind maps are good as you are forced to select only key information, and it is organised in a visually memorable way. This creative method can be more interesting when you revisit your notes – ask yourself questions to follow up later.

Draft: Put the key points down in a rough way, then organise them later. You can use lecture recordings to fill in any gaps that you missed.

This will help you make consistent notes throughout the lecture.

Review: Decide what is important and which you don’t need to keep, then add final key word pattern e.g., colour, pictures, diagrams to trigger memory

Revise: Review regularly to keep in long term memory, talk about the lecture, compare notes, read, write more on topic, pin notes to wall. Try different ideas to find what suits you.